CBS Once Fired TBBT's Lead Just for Chuck Lorre to Hire Him Back Right Away
No matter how rocky the start was, the result was totally worth all the struggles.
CBS was critical of The Big Bang Theory at the beginning of its run. Although the studio had greenlit the pitch and approved the scripts, they had no way of predicting how successful the series would be after it launched. So their need for control was completely understandable.
But as the creators of the show, Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady weren't willing to give up their creative freedom completely. If anything, they wanted to see their idea come to life on their terms, and they couldn't stand anyone messing with what they had in mind.
The most notable conflict arose over the casting of Kunal Nayyar as Rajesh Koothrappali. Although the showrunners were certain of their decision and that the actor was exactly what they were looking for, the CBS representatives disagreed.
Instead of having a straightforward discussion, they took a different approach and fired the actor by not inviting him to the shoot on time. Aside from being horribly unprofessional, it could have easily messed up the schedule and ended up becoming an even bigger problem for the production.
Chuck Lorre later recalled the events of that day in The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff.
“I was furious. I called the execs at CBS and said, ‘You can’t fire him. I cast him, I believe in him, I’ll take responsibility for this decision. He’s my guy,” the writer said.
Fortunately, the actor did not disappoint. From Raj's very first on-screen appearance, his endearing awkwardness and highly entertaining attempts to overcome selective mutism toward women appealed to the audience and made him a fan favorite.
The only bad thing most The Big Bang Theory fans can remember about Raj is the lack of closure to his story. But who knows, maybe his journey will continue in a new spinoff of the original sitcom ordered by HBO.
Stay tuned for news and updates on that project. In the meantime, you can stream The Big Bang Theory on Netflix or Max.
Source: The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series